Thread: creating a universe

  1. #1
    hacker in training AdamLAN's Avatar
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    Cool creating a universe

    I was wondering if it is possible to create a program that actually makes things move in an enviroment, like a 3D animation thing. I'm pretty sure the answer is no, I was just curious.

  2. #2
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    everything is possible Adam - everything depends mainly on your imagination and then your skill

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

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    Well, yea, just like any game that is 3d. There are a few API's specificly made for 3d rendering, and I wouldn't be surprised if some one hasn't already made a program that models planets in a solar system. I believe there is one science musem that uses a super computer to do this (using a big SGI computer, used to be one of the top ten supercomputers, and might still be on that list, although it is a little old, as I read about this in Maximum PC a few years back).

  4. #4
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
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    >>creating a universe
    Kind of hard to create a 100% accurate universe. For example, you'd have to store positions with infinite accuracy/precision for an infinite number of points, and once you've done that you have to take into account light's screwed up time properties.

    >>everything is possible Adam - everything depends mainly on your imagination and then your skill
    Assuming that's true, you can create a universe as long as you have the imagination and skill to invent an infinity machine. Build a bigger universe and the world will beat a path to your door
    Just Google It. √

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    Quote Originally Posted by Hunter2
    >>everything is possible Adam - everything depends mainly on your imagination and then your skill
    Assuming that's true, you can create a universe as long as you have the imagination and skill to invent an infinity machine. Build a bigger universe and the world will beat a path to your door
    How do we know if the Universe is infinite, although we don't know of an edge, whos to say there isn't one (the main problem with infinity, you don't know if its truely infinite, except in theory) Although Numbers are as far as we know infinite what we can represent is finite, because of memory constrants.

  6. #6
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
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    >>How do we know if the Universe is infinite
    I suppose we don't. But we haven't yet found a limit, and we haven't found a unit small enough to be the smallest possible unit. As far as we know, as long as there is more than one point existing, there are infinitely many points in between the two of them. And, yes, I'm working on the assumption that there is more than one point in existence
    Just Google It. √

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    Philosofy...

  8. #8
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by xErath
    Philosofy...
    er, philosophy; and yes we did get off topic - I think you guys misunderstood the question.

    But as long as we are off-topic, do you think creating an infinite universe (virtual that is) is possible?

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

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    Quote Originally Posted by axon
    But as long as we are off-topic, do you think creating an infinite universe (virtual that is) is possible?
    Given infinite memory, yes. OR, conversely, given some pretty dang good techniques of discarding "un-needed" objects that take up memory.
    Last edited by Lithorien; 09-28-2004 at 07:12 PM. Reason: Spelling

  10. #10
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    >>Given infinite memory, yes. OR, conversely, given some pretty dang good techniques of discarding "un-needed" objects that take up memory<<

    I was actually thinking given limited memory...sort of generating random terrain as you go; the problem arises when you would go back, the terrain would have to be the same - so maybe follow a set of certain rules, but that would lead to repetition sooner or later.

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

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    Quote Originally Posted by axon
    I was actually thinking given limited memory...sort of generating random terrain as you go; the problem arises when you would go back, the terrain would have to be the same - so maybe follow a set of certain rules, but that would lead to repetition sooner or later.
    Well, you could set up some rules using (x,y,z) coordinates for "important" things (such as planets). You only load into memory an area that is, say, +/- 10 units on every side of the player, but keep a note as to where that would be on a coordinate plane so that if the player goes back, those important objects would be re-created. Have a limited random generator for the landscape.

    That might actually work. *shrugs*

  12. #12
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
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    >>so maybe follow a set of certain rules, but that would lead to repetition sooner or later.
    Well, if you're following a set of universal physics rules, eventually you're bound to get repetition anyway... aren't you? At least, before eternity ends

    But then, generating 'random' terrain wouldn't really be a real universe. And how do you take into account life? It's hard to backwards trace when the universe doesn't wait while you explore a different region, unless you're talking about a single snapshot of an imaginary universe
    Just Google It. √

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  13. #13
    Toaster Zach L.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hunter2
    >>How do we know if the Universe is infinite
    I suppose we don't. But we haven't yet found a limit...
    In three dimensions, we have shown space is curved. In the other seven or so that string theory uses, I have no clue.
    Quote Originally Posted by Hunter2
    [A]nd we haven't found a unit small enough to be the smallest possible unit. As far as we know, as long as there is more than one point existing, there are infinitely many points in between the two of them. And, yes, I'm working on the assumption that there is more than one point in existence
    Planck length.



    On topic, though. Yes, there are ways to compute solutions to the n-body problem (particles moving about in space). It can be done fairly quickly on a PC provided you don't let the number of particles grow too large. There is a project at LANL called Rave (I think... It may be Rage, but I don't think so), that uses a large SGI to model and visualize currents within a star using a lot of particles. Just Google a bit for the n-body problem, and you will get a ton of info (it has been done often).

  14. #14
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    >>But then, generating 'random' terrain wouldn't really be a real universe. And how do you take into account life?<<

    jesus, I'm not going that deep into this...not even space as someone mentioned. I was thinking more in the terms of an infinite plane.

    On another note has anyone seen the movie "13th floor", granted it is not a very good flick (actually it is a pretty poor film) but the ideas in it are quite interesting - these people lived in a very limited universe,which was quite implausable. Actually, the movie inspired me to create a very limited universe for my "bot" (man, I really hate calling Fyodor that ).

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  15. #15
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
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    >>Planck length.
    Let me rephrase that. As far as I know.

    >>uses a large SGI to model and visualize currents within a star using a lot of particles.
    Hey, you could use the reversible random-terran generation algo to 'predict' the location of the next star system, then use the SGI stuff or whatever to simulate it once you arrive! That would be an interesting idea for a game... 'real' intergalaxial conquests

    **EDIT**
    >>In three dimensions, we have shown space is curved.
    Cool... so some sort of 3D mobius strip or something?
    Last edited by Hunter2; 09-28-2004 at 07:58 PM.
    Just Google It. √

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